I woke up as the Villainous Empress

Once everyone was comfortably seated, Yang Ning signaled Xiaowei, and the maids gracefully commenced serving the tea and snacks that Yang Ning had specially requested from the kitchen staff.

As the maids delicately arranged the snacks and placed them on the table one by one, the ladies couldn't help but express surprise at the unfamiliar assortment before them. These were not the typical snacks they were accustomed to seeing or being served at tea parties; instead, they were presented with something different, something uniquely novel and never before seen or tasted.

After everything was served, a lady, her expression marked by confusion, turned to Yang Ning and asked with curiosity, "Your Highness, what are these snacks? I have never seen such dishes before."

"That's true. My husband often travels to other kingdoms as an imperial court representative, bringing back unique snacks and fruits for us to try. But even I haven't encountered dishes like these before," another woman added.

The lady who used to be the closest to the former Empress wrinkled her nose with skepticism and asked, "Are these even edible? I am afraid they might upset my stomach."

Yang Ning raised her brows at the skeptical comment but chose not to respond directly. Instead, she smiled at the others and took the initiative to explain, "For this special tea party, I wanted to prepare unique dishes for our esteemed guests. Allow me to introduce each dish to you."

"These fried sticks are made from potatoes, resulting in crispy fried potato sticks. They're delightful when dipped in the tomato sauce prepared next to them," Yang Ning explained, pointing to each dish one by one.

She continued, "Next, we have fried onion rings, crafted from onions coated in batter and fried to perfection. Enjoy them with tomato sauce to enhance their flavor as well. I am sure its taste will be to your liking."

"The chicken bites are next, coated in a seasoned batter and fried. I requested them to be served in bite-sized pieces for convenience," Yang Ning said, introducing each dish with enthusiasm.

In addition to the appetizers, she had prepared cookies and a fruit and milk dessert. Even the tea she served was not ordinary; it was milk tea. Being the host of the tea party, Yang Ning was determined to make it a memorable experience for her guests.

Despite her background as an archery athlete, Fang Li had spent a significant amount of time living alone and had become adept at cooking her meals. While she might not be an expert chef, she knew how to prepare dishes she enjoyed.

Given the exceptional culinary skills of the palace cooks, she decided to introduce them to items they might not have tasted before. Yang Ning also wanted the noble ladies to experience a taste of her world. Although not all the ingredients were available, she made some adjustments, and the end result closely resembled the flavors from her previous life.
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As she presented the dishes, Yang Ning found herself reminiscing about the foods she used to enjoy, savoring the opportunity to share them with her guests. She wanted to use this opportunity to leave an unforgettable impression in their minds.

Yang Ning's explanation surprised everyone. The dishes appeared appetizing, but hesitation lingered as the guests were uncertain about their unfamiliar tastes.

The simplicity of the dishes gave the impression that they might be more suitable for commoners rather than people of their status. After all, it seemed like the kind of food typically enjoyed by the common folk.

Amid the cautious silence, one brave lady took the initiative. She picked up the potato fries Yang Ning had just introduced, dipped them in tomato sauce, and put them in her mouth. The others watched with bated breath, anticipating her reaction. After all, these were not fried dumplings but thinly cut potatoes. How could they possibly taste good?

To everyone's astonishment, the woman's initial frown transformed into a look of surprise. "Oh my! Are you sure these are just potatoes? They're delicious. I've never had potatoes prepared this way, especially with this sauce. It's sweet, tangy, and pairs perfectly with the potato fries," she exclaimed.

Skeptical gazes turned into intrigued expressions, and others decided to try the fried potato sticks and onion rings just to prove her wrong. However, as soon as the snacks touched their tongues, they were rendered speechless.

"These sticks are indeed delicious."

"The onion rings don't even smell like onions. They're crispy, and savory, and pair perfectly with the sauce. I could eat them all day long."

"What kind of tea is this? It's my first time having milk and sugar in tea. It's so creamy and delicious."

"Your Highness, you truly have an excellent sense of taste and cooking. I've tried many imported snacks from other kingdoms, but these snacks surpass them all. Delicious," they exclaimed, praising Yang Ning's arrangement for the tea party.

Upon witnessing the unanimous praise for the food, Guo Yurong and Madam Liu exchanged glances, intrigued by the allure that had captivated all the ladies. They couldn't help but wonder how delicious these dishes could be for other noble ladies to react like this.

Eager to experience it themselves, they sampled the snacks and milk tea arranged before them. As the flavors touched their palates, their brows lifted in pleasant surprise; these delicacies were truly exquisite. Madam Liu, ever gracious, couldn't resist acknowledging Yang Ning with a smile, expressing appreciation for her thoughtful arrangements.

Meanwhile, Guo Yurong savored the treats in silence, relishing each bite without uttering a word.

Yang Ning saw Guo Yurong eating the snacks in silence and waited for her response but she didn't say anything. Madam Guo, who was eating onion rings, noticed Yang Ning staring at her and cleared her throat awkwardly before saying, "These are alright." She said, nothing more.

Yang Ning frowned as she couldn't understand if Guo Yurong liked the food or not, but Madam Liu covered her mouth and chuckled secretly. She could see how reluctant Guo Yurong looked while complimenting the food, but seeing how she didn't criticize it right away or put down her chopsticks, it looked like she truly liked it.

That was one rare occasion.

"These are such simple dishes, I wonder how we never had them before? Your Highness, who thought of such a genius idea? I would like to borrow that chef for my next tea party." One of the ladies said.

"Yes, Yes. The snacks are all delicious. I am shocked that such simple dishes can be so appetizing. And this milk tea? It's the first time I am having tea with milk, and it's delicious. Your Highness, can you let us meet the person who suggested making these?"

Everyone looked intently at Yang Ning and waited for her response. Under everyone's pressured gaze, Yang Ning laughed awkwardly and said, "Well, if you want to meet my chefs, I will surely introduce them to you. They surely did a great job in carrying out the instructions."

Madam Liu frowned and caught the meaning behind her words, "Your Highness, are you saying that it was not the chefs who thought of these unique dishes? Then who came up with their recipes?"

Yang Ning was surprised by the keen observation of Madam Liu and smiled and straightened her back before saying, "I did. However, I only gave them the recipes and taught them how to make all of them. The end result was given by them; I cannot take credit for that."

"Is that true? Your Highness, how can you think of such amazing dishes? Who would have thought the onions that were always used in other broths and dishes could serve as an appetizer on its own? Same with potatoes; whenever they were sautéed, they always became soft, but the ones you served were crispy on top and soft and savory from inside and had a unique taste.

The sauce was also complementing all the appetizers. I am surprised at your culinary talent."

While everyone praised Yang Ning, Guo Yurong watched her in amusement and wondered what amazing things this woman could do. The Yang Ning she knew from rumors, the woman in front of her was completely different.

She observed Yang Ning with amusement, intrigued to unveil the masks this woman might be wearing. Is she truly the way she looks, or is she merely pretending to garner their favor?

As everyone was busy complimenting Yang Ning and enjoying the snacks, Madam Guo, who was silent all this while, suddenly asked, "Your Highness, I don't see Mrs. Yang here. Is she not coming today?" She asked.

Yesterday, when she went to the Yang Household with Madam Liu, Chang Ah had confidently announced that she would be coming to the tea party and had received the invitations as well. The party has already begun, and the snacks and tea have been served as well. Where is she?

Since no one seemed to be curious about it, Guo Yurong decided to bring this matter up herself. She also wanted to see how Yang Ning would dodge her question.

Yang Ning stared at Guo Yurong with a subtle smile and said, "The guests that I have invited, are all here. If someone is not here, it only means that they haven't been invited." She said straightforwardly, causing everyone's mouths to open in disbelief.